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Credible estimates of vaccine adverse reaction under

James Froeschle, Connaught
Laboratories, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania Dr. Froeschle gave information about
adverse events following diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DT) that had been
reported to Connaught. From a
comparison of spontaneous reports with postmarketing surveillance data, the
company estimates about a 50-fold underreporting of adverse events in the
passive reporting system. The distribution of types of events,
however, was found to be approximately the same; in both cases, the majority of
reported events were local reactions or fever. The company has seen a
marked decrease in adverse event reports since the inception of VAERS late in
1991, because physicians are now requested to send reports directly to the VAERS
contractor.

Although the FDA receives many adverse
event reports, these probably represent only a fraction of the serious adverse
events encountered by providers. A recent review article found that
between 3% and 11% of hospital admissions could be attributed to adverse drug
reactions. Only about 1% of
serious events are reported to the FDA, according to one study.

"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."

-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820

“A sacred cow will not protect the herd.”

-- Sandy Gottstein

"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"

-- Sandy Gottstein

"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"